Federal authorities have intercepted 1,300 barrels of methamphetamine precursor chemicals shipped from China and bound for Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel. This record-breaking seizure, coordinated through a multi-agency operation, stopped the production of an estimated 420,000 pounds of methamphetamine valued at over $569 million on the street.
Officials confirmed the shipment contained 360,000 pounds of benzyl alcohol and 334,000 pounds of N‑methylformamide, both classified as key precursors for meth production. The chemicals originated in Shanghai and were en route to Mexico before being diverted to the Port of Houston, where they were secured and seized. The volume of chemicals required over two dozen 18-wheelers for transport to secure federal storage.
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, DEA, Department of Defense’s Joint Interagency Task Force, U.S. Northern Command, and the Texas National Guard all played roles in the operation. According to officials, this is the largest known seizure of meth precursor chemicals tied directly to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The Sinaloa Cartel’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) allowed prosecutors to act swiftly. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that terrorism-related forfeiture powers enabled federal agencies to disrupt the cartel’s supply chain before the chemicals reached production labs in Mexico.
“Tons of chemicals that are used to create synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are shipped from China to Mexico in China’s undeclared war against America,” Pirro stated.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons emphasized that targeting the chemical sources before methamphetamine is manufactured is more effective than reacting after the drugs enter the U.S. market. Lyons shared, “Had these precursors made it to the destination, they would have made hundreds of thousands of pounds of methamphetamine, with profits of over half a billion dollars, which would lead to more American deaths here, not only in Houston, but all across the country.”
This seizure follows earlier actions taken in 2025, including the interception of 50,000 kilograms of di-cumyl peroxide, another chemical used in meth production. Intelligence reports continue to show that Chinese chemical manufacturers are key suppliers to Mexican drug cartels, which now produce over 90% of meth consumed in the United States. Mexico’s ports, especially Manzanillo, are often the entry points for these dual-use chemicals.
The Sinaloa Cartel remains one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking networks, responsible for large-scale production and distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Despite arrests and internal leadership changes, its global reach continues, fueled by international chemical smuggling operations.
